Saturday, May 7, 2016

Leicester City outclasses Everton before lifting EPL trophy

King and teammate Danny Simpson celebrate as Leicester extends its lead.

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Jamie Vardy is felled in the Everton penalty area.

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Vardy smashes the ball past Joel Robles in the Everton goal to make it 3-0 to Leicester.

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Leicester players celebrate. Although Everton would claim a late consolation, the English champions would comfortably close the game out.

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Captain Wes Morgan and manager Claudio Ranieri of Leicester City lift the Premier League trophy after defeating Everton 3-1.

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The inspirational Italian coach has masterminded Leicester's first top flight win in the club's 132-year-history.

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Leicester City players celebrate together with the Premier League trophy.

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Star striker Jamie Vardy opens the scoring for The Foxes against Everton Saturday.

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Leicester players celebrate Vardy's early goal.

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Midfielder Andy King made it 2-0 after 33 minutes.

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King and teammate Danny Simpson celebrate as Leicester extends its lead.

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Jamie Vardy is felled in the Everton penalty area.

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Vardy smashes the ball past Joel Robles in the Everton goal to make it 3-0 to Leicester.

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Leicester players celebrate. Although Everton would claim a late consolation, the English champions would comfortably close the game out.

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Captain Wes Morgan and manager Claudio Ranieri of Leicester City lift the Premier League trophy after defeating Everton 3-1.

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The inspirational Italian coach has masterminded Leicester's first top flight win in the club's 132-year-history.

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Leicester City players celebrate together with the Premier League trophy.

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Star striker Jamie Vardy opens the scoring for The Foxes against Everton Saturday.

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Leicester players celebrate Vardy's early goal.

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Story highlights

Leicester City picks up EPL trophy

Foxes defeat Everton 3-1 at King Power stadium

Jamie Vardy scores twice and misses a penalty

(CNN)The city of Leicester seems to have barely slept since it's unlikely football heroes secured the English Premier League title earlier this week.

Yet the festivities are certain to continue after the fantastic Foxes outclassed a poor Everton side 3-1 before being presented with the EPL trophy Saturday.

Few could have predicted a Leicester City title win at the beginning of the season. But the East Midlands club's outstanding spirit and organization sees them worthy league winners.

A noisy and emotionally charged King Power stadium was serenaded by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, who was invited to perform by Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri, before the players took to the field.

But it was the newly installed champions hitting the high-notes right from the off.

Schmeichel, whose father won five Premier League titles with Manchester United between 1992 and 1999, seemed similarly emotional.

"This is what dreams are made of, it is what you dream of as a kid. It is hard to put into words," Schmeichel said.

Wild celebrations in pubs, homes and on the streets of Leicester have been beamed across the world all week as fans reacted to Leicester's achievement in outsmarting more illustrious and moneyed rivals such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea to triumph in one of the most competitive leagues in the world.

Some bookmakers even ranked a Kim Kardashian presidency in 2020 as a more likely outcome than a Leicester City EPL win at the beginning of the season.

The title is also Leicester's first top division triumph in its 132-year history.

Addressing fans as he introduced Bocelli before the game, Ranieri said: "We're champions because you pushed behind us. Thank you. I love you."

After the match, Ranieri again spoke of his happiness for Leicester City's loyal followers who have backed them noisily all season.

"It is fantastic, the people have been unbelievable thank you to them," Ranieri said.

"I am very very happy. I think it was an amazing moment for me (as) I am not youngest.

"To lift the trophy is something special. You are champion of the Premier League that is something special for me of course because I won some cups in Spain and Italy but to be champion here is fantastic," Ranieri added.

Leicester can now look forward to Champions League football next year and the test of coming up against the finest teams in Europe.

For Ranieri, however, there is little to be afraid of given the scale of his team's achievement this year.

"We know very well this is strange year and have to put it aside and be focused on next season. The foundations are strong," he said.

Fuchs on Leicester's title: 'It was pure happiness'04:34

10 photos:Leicester City clinches Premier League title

A Chelsea fan holds up a sign in support of Leicester City's title challenge. Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was once in charge of Chelsea.

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10 photos:Leicester City clinches Premier League title

Ranieri walks to the tunnel at halftime of Leicester City's match at Manchester United on Saturday, May 1. The Foxes could have clinched the title with a victory, but the 1-1 draw meant they would have to wait a bit longer.

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10 photos:Leicester City clinches Premier League title

Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha applauds fans at the end of the Manchester United match.

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10 photos:Leicester City clinches Premier League title

Jamie Vardy, Leicester City's star striker, acknowledges the fans in Manchester. Vardy was recently named player of the year by the English Football Writers' Association. He has 22 Premier League goals this season.

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10 photos:Leicester City clinches Premier League title

Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez takes a shot during the Manchester United match. Last month, Mahrez was named player of the year by his peers in the Professional Footballers' Association. He has 17 goals and 11 assists in 34 Premier League matches.

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10 photos:Leicester City clinches Premier League title

Leicester City fans watch the Chelsea-Tottenham match at a pub in Leicester, England, on Monday, May 2. The match ended 2-2, giving Leicester City its first Premier League title in club history. The Foxes were a 5,000-to-1 shot when the season started.